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Hammocks are just as safe (or as vulnerable) as tents, but there are great ways to minimize your risks outdoors.

NEVER EVER sleep near or downwind from "smellable" items like food, kitchen items, food-soiled clothing etc. Keep a pair of clean sleeping clothes separate from your hiking clothes that you change in to when you go to bed.

Animals are attracted by smell, primarily.

In wilderness areas where animals are still afraid of humans, you can often scare them away with sounds or sights. I've seen and read about places on the AT where the bears simply ignored hikers as they clawed through backpacks.

Thanks dejoha. Those are really good tips. I practice almost all of them - keeping food in a cache, not eating or washing dishes in my campsite etc., but the keeping sleeping clothes separate is a great point - a bit difficult on a long hike, but still very smart. I have been lucky enough not to have any trouble so far - even after finding an empty tuna wrapper in my pack one morning! I hope those aren't famous last words! Thanks again!

Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace without end to you.
adapted from - ancient gaelic runes

Semi-off topic and not always appropriate but when I am in remote areas, ones where no one else will be using my "site", I pee liberally around my camp. On these occasions I have had zero wild life in camp. This includes stays in bear country during groggy, hungry bear time of year.

Semi-off topic and not always appropriate but when I am in remote areas, ones where no one else will be using my "site", I pee liberally around my camp. On these occasions I have had zero wild life in camp. This includes stays in bear country during groggy, hungry bear time of year.

Could be a load of hogwash but it's worked well for me!

Totally off-topic : how much beer does it take to fully secure a camp-site ?

It's been a few days since I've been on HF. I'm just back from a wonderful trip to San Fran and then Boulder, CO. Thanks for the bear repellant advice Spikemaulmaster! Though I'm not sure that I could pull off the feat, I will urge my boyfriend to next time we are in bear country!
Speaking of dogfish head, I just had a 90 minute IPA (ON TAP!!!) in San Fran. Oh how I love being back in the States!

Not sure why I didn't mention this earlier picya12, one thing I am not without in bear country is an air-horn. Will send any critter running for the hills! They have nice compact ones too. Perfect for backpacking. These work very, very well in my experience. Just be sure not to cuddle with it at night lest you set it of! Boat supply stores are a good place to find them. Much less expensive than bear-spray as well.